Monday, March 26, 2012

Yupe. I pledged on The Friendliest Day of the Year online. To verify that the 17th March 2012 was officially ‘The Friendliest Day of the Year’, Guinness World Record has spent the past 12 hours painstakingly counting the number of online pledges and the number of people who attended the St Patrick’s celebrations around the world for two GWR titles – the Most pledges received for a campaign and the Largest St Patrick’s Day celebration worldwide.

With a staggering 435,456 people joining the campaign around the world in the spirit of friendliness, GWR has confirmed two new Guinness World Records have been set, making St Patrick’s Day officially the world's ‘Friendliest Day of the Year’.

Not only did I pledged, I also celebrate together in the Largest St Patrick's Day celebration worldwide. I reached Changkat Bukit Bintang at around 6.30 p.m. where's the celebration for Malaysia will be held.

Everyone was ready for the celebration. Not long after I registered at the media area, I was brought to the Arthur Longue with other media to try to pour our own two-part Guinness Draught.

Not only that, we got to get our name engraved on a Guinness glass. Just happen Susan was working part-time as one of the engraver.

Blamed it on my bad writing that my Seow was spelled Seon lol.

It's back to the media area again for free flow of Guinness Draught and good food.

I'm dressed to the occasion.

Hmm...Ngeline didn't approve me on Facebook =(

It's a street party.

At about 9.45 p.m. it's time to launch the Friendliest Day of the Year. VIPs rode in on Harley's from the start of the street till the stage.

While I was following the entourage, I bumped into Sasha. Haven't seen her for a while already. Such a pleasant surprise.

We then walked to the stage together and then it's launched. Fireworks was then shot up. Here's a video of how's the atmosphere was like.

Everyone cheers to The Friendliest Day of the Year!!

We of course took the opportunity to take pictures with some of the characters.

Before I went home, I stopped by the Comedy Club and had a good laugh off jokes from our local comedian Dr. Jason (he's a real medical doctor by the way) and all the way from India, Papa CJ.

Thank you Guinness for a fun filled night. Hopefully next year's St. Patrick's Day will be even bigger and friendlier.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Ever since I found out that my American Express Credit Card gets 15% off the a la carte dish from Yuzu in the Gardens, it has became one of my favourite Japanese restaurant. Abate, that the pricing here is a bit on the premium side but the quality of the ingredients here are of top grade. Some of the premium fishes and seafood are flown in twice a week.

Usually, I'll order from their normal menu until the staff show me a menu written on just two pages of plain paper without any photos. It's the Omakase menu (Chef's recommendation menu). Even though it's only two pages, there are a lot of dishes to choose from. The price range from RM 28 to RM 180 plus.

So, I ordered Toro Tataki Salad (RM48++). First time I had toro made this way, and it's one of the most expensive salad I ever had. Tataki is half cooked grilling style.

Toro Tataki Salad (RM48++)

I felt adventurous that evening, so I ordered Shirako in Ponzu sauce but too bad they were out of Ponzu sauce, so I was recommended deep fried Shirako instead. Oh, Shirako is Cod Fish's Sperm Sacs. It tasted quite good, silky smooth and a texture like tofu. Also, there's no fishy taste at all. Try it if you like tofu =P

Deep Fried Shirako

My adventure doesn't stop there because the last and third order is Omakase Sushi Course (RM120 ++), which literally means "surprise me, Chef".

Appetizers are Beef Stew with Daikon and Stir-fried long beans with prawn. The beef is le tender and juicy, and the daikon (radish) soaked up the sauce and yet still holding up. While the long bean is not too wowing the prawn is quite springy.

The dish is Sashimi consists of Hamachi (Yellow Tail), Salmon Belly and Maguro? The wasabi given here is not your normal one but the one freshly grated. The fishes were cut thick instead of the normal kiamsap thin cut. It's very fresh and juicy with fish oil.

Next dish is Grilled Mackerel if not mistaken. While it's quite good but it's just a little bit over cooked. The sides that look like kiwi fruit is something like sweet potato but less sweet.

One of my favourite dish of this course is the Homemade Tofu in Special Sauce. The tofu is so rich in soy that it was like eating very concentrated taufufa and drinking soy milk. Even if I don't put in the sauce, I can finish it plain. Also, it's so silky smooth.

I'm not sure whether the chef is out of idea or he just forgot that he served me the same dish in the appetizer at this course. The only different is that the portion is bigger.

Oyster from US is in season, so the chef made a grilled oyster on this 6th course. Not too common eating oyster this made this way. A special dipping comes with it.

While waiting for the next dish, I was starting to wondered whether the waitress put in Omakase Sashimi Course instead of Omakase Sushi Course because there is no sushi yet. Then, it came. OMG. Chutoro! Ikura! Anago! All are premium sushi! The chutoro is so rich in fish oil that my hand was oily when I ate it using my hand. I don't eat sushi using chopstick. This is sushi heaven.

Lastly, I washed down the dishes with a clear and thirst crunching Dobin Mushi. Nothing beats a clear broth of shitake, enoki, Japanese leek and Ginko nuts after courses of fishes and meats.

Dobin Mushi

Last last but not least. Dessert. I like the creme brulle.

I think the Omakase Sushi Course is quite value for money. If you are not a big eater, you can share this course with another friend, which will only cost RM60++ per person. Next time I'll try the Omakase Sashimi Course. Oh, please know that you might not get the same dishes that I ate here when you order any Omakase course because it depends on the chef and what ingredients he/she thinks that is good that day.

P.S. Too bad Omakase Sushi Course is not a la carte, so there's no discount.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Hey hey hey. Chinese music fans, good news. Tiger Asian Music Festival is back. I went to last year's TAMF and it's great! This time the concert will be brought from indoor to the “Street” at Sunway’s Surf Beach on the 14th April 2012, Tiger has upped the ante once again, with an outdoor music and lifestyle festival with the best of the best of urban Asian artists to complement the progressive nature of Tiger AMF 2012. As the singers and their sounds are all coming from the urban genre, expect to hear some one-of-a-kind collaborations between the finest that Asia has to offer.

From Malaysia, there's my favourite local hip-hop group Manhand once again performing.

Manhand's members (MC Bee, Von, Daeren, MC Toy and DJ Point) all have their own distinct characters. This has had a significant influence on their self-produced debut album, ManHanD, giving its music a uniqueness that stands out from other hip-hop/rap albums. Their one-of-a-kind sound and artistry has been recognised at the 2008 PWH Music Awards, where they won Best Group, Best Song and Best Album Design accolades. Since then, they have continued to shine, clinching the Best Chinese Singers of Malaysia Award at the GCMA Music Awards and having a string of hits on both local and international music charts.

Good news for those that is reading this post. I got 5 pairs of Tiger Asian Music Festival 2012 ticket to give away. All you have to do is answer two questions and then send your answer to yyseow[at]gmail[dot]com. The first question will be asked here in the part 1 of the contest. Look out of the 2nd question in the part 2 post next week. The first five that send in the correct answers for both questions and will win a pair of tickets to TAMF 2012 worth RM118.

Part 1 Question:

Name me three artistes that will be performing in Tiger Asian Music Festival 2012 this coming 14th April.

Remember you have to collect the answers for Part 1 and Part 2 only then send in your entry. Please state your full name, IC no. and mobile no. Put in the subject "TAMF 2012 Contest".

Monday, March 12, 2012

Another "Lazy Sunday" post. I think I will make this a regular weekly title. Every Monday I will post up a "Lazy Sunday" post. It might be food that I had, things that I did or movie that I watched the day before.

So, yesterday I had a late lunch in Journal by Plan B in Publika. Publika is now my favourite place to chill on a Sunday. Plan B is part of B.I.G group which is kind of expanding very fast recently. In Publika you can already find a few of their establishments like Ben's Independent Grocer, Ben's, and Journal by Plan B. B.I.G group was formed by Ben Yong, whom was the founder of Delicious Group. He sold all his shares in Delicious to E & O and partnered with his friends to form B.I.G.

In the eateries under B.I.G. that I went, I will always be served with a bottle of water. I like their concept so that those that only wanted to drink plain water don't have to ask for it or pay for mineral water.

I haven't got my coffee fix in earlier, so I ordered a cup of Latte. Their coffee is brewed with a mixture of a few good quality beans. You can read about the details in their menu.

I don't want to go too heavy on my late lunch, so I ordered a Ox Tongue Sandwich and a bowl of Wild Mushroom soup. The first time I tried Ox Tongue sandwich was two years ago during the launch of Delicious Times & D'lish's new menu. So, I'm not surprise to find Ox Tongue Sandwich available in the menu of Plan B.

Spread with English Yellow Mustard, it goes right with the ox toungue with the tinge of spiciness that is not too overwhelming. I cut a few pieces of the gherkin that come with it and put it in the sandwich. Oh my, I'll have to say it provided a new whole taste and texture. The gherkin is not too sourish and not to acidic.

Instead of the normal fried potato chips, here in Plan B I was served with fried sweet potato chips, fried ubi keladi chips and fried yam chips? I like it because it's not too salty at all.

Their Wild Mushroom soup is very rich and fulfiling but I still prefer the one I had in Red BeanBag.

After this fulfiling late lunch, I went to Ben's Independent Grocer to do some shopping and take away Lamb Shank for supper from Ben's General Food Store.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

It's March! Time flies. It's time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day again. Which means it's time to drink Guinness if you haven't drink any yet.

There will be a lot of activity around St. Patrick's Day this month.

Central to the theme of this year’s celebrations – ‘Celebrate the laughter side of life’, GUINNESS® will be hosting a weekend of St Patrick’s fun at Changkat Bukit Bintang starting on the 16th of March 2012! From 6pm till 12am, Changkat Bukit Bintang will showcase the ‘laughter side of life’ with our fun loving buskers, entertaining games and hilarious comedy tours by some of the most hysterically funny people in the local stand-up comedy scene. Bring your mates and laugh your hats off at Havana Bar & Grill, The Social and Raggae Bar.

On the 17th March 2012, the much anticipated GUINNESS® St. Patrick’s Street Party at Changkat Bukit Bintang will be making a welcomed comeback! The streets of Changkat Bukit Bintang will be transformed into an iconic St Patrick’s street party from 6pm till late! Grab your mates and head on down to the party and drop by at our ‘Comedy Court’ to watch hilarious performances by some of the funniest people in the region.Besides that, GUINNESS® is also rallying hundreds and thousands of friends and fans from Malaysia and around the world to help make this year’s St Patrick’s the biggest, best and most enjoyable St. Patrick’s celebration. GUINNESS® is attempting to set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the ‘Friendliest Day of the Year’ by getting 1 million people worldwide to pledge online at www.facebook.com/guinnessmalaysia and www.stpatricks.com.my.This year, GUINNESS® will also be spreading the fun and laughter of St Patrick’s with its iconic GUINNESS® St Patrick’s parties in Ipoh, Penang, Melaka, Johor, Pahang and East Malaysia! Come

I've already pledged my name for the 'Friendliest Day of the Year'. Go pledge yours now.

But wait…There’s more! The fun stretches throughout the month of March, with special promotions on your favourite black brew in more than 2000 GUINNESS® outlets nationwide. With every purchase of 4 glasses of GUINNESS® Draught or a bucket of GUINNESS® Foreign Extra Stout, consumers are entitled to a limited edition GUINNESS® St Patrick’s miniature glass. On top of that, limited edition GUINNESS® St Patrick’s T-Shirts will be available every Thursday from 8th March till 31st March 2012 for just an additional RM10 in 178 selected outlets! There are 4 fun designs up for grabs which will be revealed weekly.To find out how to have so ‘March’ fun with GUINNESS® this St Patrick’s, hop on over to www.facebook.com/guinnessmalaysia for more information.